The second phase of a multi-million-pound project to redevelop the children’s department at Ipswich Hospital starts next week.

From Monday 23 January, construction will begin on a new treatment room, dedicated HDU bay, sanctuary room, upgraded mental health facilities, playroom and parts of the reconfigured inpatient ward. A new infill extension will be constructed in an existing courtyard as part of the work, which is due for completion by the end of the year.

The third and final phase will then begin when a new ward entrance, further inpatient rooms, school room, children’s assessment unit and refurbished outdoor play area are created. The new-look department is due to open fully to patients by summer 2024.

To allow phase two of the project to take place, the inpatient beds currently housed on Bergholt Ward will move into Boxford Ward, our paediatric assessment unit (PAU), from Wednesday 18 January onwards. Both services will initially operate from Boxford, with the flexibility to move the PAU into the outpatient department if necessary.

Dr Lauren Filby, consultant paediatrician and clinical lead, said: “We are delighted that the second phase of this exciting project is now beginning. It will transform our inpatient facilities and improve the experience which everyone has when receiving care.

“Our teams will be working as flexibly as possible so that we can continue to deliver high quality services to our patients but will be operating in significantly less space while construction takes place.